Retractable brush

ABSTRACT

A cleaning apparatus includes a body elongated along an axis between a first end and a second end, the body defining a chamber. The cleaning apparatus includes a brush supported by the body and movable from a retracted position within the chamber to an extended position outside of the chamber.

BACKGROUND

Brushes typically include a handle and bristles. Brushes may be used to clean dirt, corrosion, or other debris from an object. For example, a brush may be used to clear an end hole of an access port to a barrel lock.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cleaning apparatus with a brush in an extended position.

FIG. 2 is a partial cross-section perspective view of the cleaning apparatus with the brush in the extended position.

FIG. 2A is a close up of a portion of the partial cross-section perspective view of the cleaning apparatus of FIG. 2 .

FIG. 3 is an end view of the cleaning apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a partial cross-section perspective view of the cleaning apparatus with the brush in a retracted position.

FIG. 5 is a perspective exploded view of the cleaning apparatus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A cleaning apparatus, e.g., for clearing a hole, includes a body elongated along an axis between a first end and a second end. The body defines a chamber. The cleaning apparatus includes a brush supported by the body and movable from a retracted position within the chamber to an extended position outside of the chamber. Moving the brush to the extend position enables the brush to be used to clean dirt, corrosion, or other debris from an object. Moving the brush to the retracted position enables the cleaning apparatus to be stored, e.g., in a pocket of a user and without undesired contamination from dirt, etc., on the brush after the brush has been used.

With reference to FIGS. 1-5 , and wherein like numerals indicate like elements throughout the several views, a cleaning apparatus 10 is shown. The cleaning apparatus 10 can be stored, e.g., without undesired contamination from and dirt, etc., and may provide light L, e.g., to illuminate an object being cleaned with the cleaning apparatus 10.

A cleaning apparatus 10 includes a body 12. The body 12 encloses and supports other components of the cleaning apparatus 10. The body 12 may be plastic or any suitable material. The body 12 is elongated along an axis A1 between a first end 14 and a second end 16. The first end 14 and the second end 16 may be distal on the body 12.

The body 12 can include a first portion 18 and a second portion 20. The first portion 18 may be adjacent the second portion 20 along the axis A1. The first portion 18 may be rotatable about the axis A1 relative to the second portion 20. For example, the first portion 18 may be rotated in one direction about the axis A1 when the second portion 20 is stationary or rotated in an opposite direction. The first end 14 may be on the first portion 18 opposite the second portion 20. The second end 16 may be on the second portion 20 opposite the first portion 18. The second portion 20 may include a first part 20 a fixed to a second part 20 b.

The body 12 defines a chamber 22 therein. The chamber 22 is a hollow volume within the body 12. For example, the body 12 may surround the chamber 22 circumferentially relative to the axis A1. The chamber 22 by may extend within the body 12, e.g., from the first end 14 along the axis A1 toward the second end 16. The chamber 22 may be defined by the first portion 18 and the second portion 20.

The body 12, e.g., the first portion 18 of the body 12, can include an opening 24 at the first end 14. The opening 24 may extend through the body 12 from an external end surface 26 of the body 12 to the chamber 22. The external end surface 26 may surround the opening 24, e.g., circumferentially relative to the axis A1. The axis A1 may be normal to the external end surface 26.

The body 12, e.g., first portion 18 and the second portion 20 of the body 12, can include a light transmissive material, e.g., transparent (or partially transparent) plastic, glass, etc. The light transmissive material may include a reflective cladding at certain locations of the body 12. The cladding may reflect escaping light L and direct light L along the body 12 to the external end surface 26. The external end surface 26 may be free from cladding, permitting light L traveling with the body 12 to escape at the external end surface 26.

The cleaning apparatus 10 includes a brush 28. The brush 28 can include a rod 30. The rod 30 may be metal or any suitable material. A diameter of the rod 30 may be smaller a diameter of the opening 24, e.g., such that the rod 30 may be slidable within the opening 24. The rod 30 may be elongated along the axis A1, e.g., between a first distal end 32 and a second distal end 34. The brush 28 may include a plurality of bristles 36. The bristles 36 may be wire or any other suitable material. The bristles 36 may be at the first distal end 32 of the rod 30. The bristles 36 may extend radially outward from the rod 30, e.g., relative to the axis A1. The bristles 36 may extend from the rod 30 about the axis A1, e.g., the bristles 36 may circumferentially surround the rod 30.

The brush 28 is movable from an extended position outside of the chamber 22, shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 , to a retracted position within the chamber 22, shown in FIG. 4 , and vice versa. For example, the brush 28 in the retracted position may be completely within the chamber 22. The brush 28 in the extended position may be partially within the chamber 22 and partially outside the chamber 22, e.g., the brush 28 in the extended position may extend from within the chamber 22 to outside the chamber 22 through the opening 24. As another example, the bristles 36 of the brush 28 may be in the chamber 22 when the brush 28 is in the retracted position. In other words, the bristles 36 may be between the first end 14 and the second end 16 and surrounded by the body 12 when the brush 28 is in the retracted position. The bristles 36 are outside the chamber 22 when the brush 28 is in the extended position. For example, the first end 14 of the body 12 may be between the bristles 36 and the second end 16 along the axis A1 when the brush 28 is in the extended position. The brush 28 may move from the retracted position to the extended position, and vice versa, along the axis A1 and through the opening 24. For example, the bristles 36 may move linearly along the axis A1 from within the chamber 22 to outside the chamber 22, and vice versa, via the opening 24.

The brush 28 may be supported by the body 12, e.g., via a retractor 38 supported by the body 12 within the chamber 22, The retractor is configured to move the brush 28 from the extended position to the retracted position, and vice versa. The brush 28 in the extended position may extend from the retractor 38 through the opening 24 and out of the chamber 22. The brush 28 in the retracted position may extend from the retractor 38 toward the first end 14 and from the retractor 38 toward the second end 16.

The retractor 38 may include a first part 40 and a second part 42 rotatable relative to the first part 40. The retractor 38 may include, for example, a post (not shown) fixed to one of the first part 40 or the second part 42, and a spiral channel (not shown) defined by the other of the first part 40 or the second part 42. The post may be engaged in the spiral channel such that rotational movement of the post along the channel (e.g., when the first part 40 is rotated relative to the second part 42) provides linear movement along the axis A1. The rod 30 of the brush 28 may be concentrically supported within the first part 40 and the second part 42. Clockwise rotation of the first part 40 relative to the second part 42 may move the rod 30 in one direction along the axis A1. Counter-clockwise rotation of the first part 40 relative to the second part 42 may move the rod 30 in an opposite direction along the axis A1. The first part 40 of the retractor 38 may by fixed to or engaged with the first portion 18 of the body 12 and the second part 42 of the retractor 38 may be fixed to or engaged with the second portion 20 of the body 12, e.g., via press fit or other suitable attachment. Rotation of the first portion 18 of the body 12 relative to the second portion 20 of the body 12 may rotate the first part 40 of the retractor 38 relative to the second part 42 of the retractor 38—thereby moving the brush 28 along the axis A1 from the retracted position to the extended position, or vice versa depending on the direction of rotation. The retractor 38 may include any other suitable structure for moving the brush 28, including conventional structures.

The cleaning apparatus 10 may include a light source 44 that can generate visible light L. The light source 44 may include light emitting diode, or other light generating element (such as a halogen bulb, etc.) that generates light L from a provided electrical current. The light source 44 can include a battery 48 that stores energy and provides electrical current, e.g., to the light emitting diode (LED) or other light generating element, for light generation. The light source 44 may include a switch 50 that can turn the light source 44 on and off, e.g., by opening 24 and closing an electrical circuit connecting the light emitting diode and the battery 48.

The light source 44 may be supported by the second portion 20 of the body 12. For example, the light source 44 may be internal of the second portion 20. The light source 44 may be pointed toward the first end 14. For example, the light emitting diode, or other light generating element, may be pointed toward the chamber 22 and/or the external end surface 26 of the body 12, e.g., such that light L generated by the light source 44 may travel toward the first end 14 of the body 12. The light L may be provided into the chamber 22 and the light transmissive material of the body 12 may direct light L from the light source 44 to the first end 14, e.g., as shown in FIG. 2A. The retractor 38 may be between the opening 24 and the light source 44 along the axis A1. The light transmissive material of the body 12 may direct light L from the light source 44 past the retractor 38 to the opening 24 at the first end 14, e.g., the first portion 18 may direct light L to the external end surface 26. The light L may be transmitted out from the external end surface 26 along the axis A1 and away from the body 12.

The disclosure has been described in an illustrative manner, and it is to be understood that the terminology which has been used is intended to be in the nature of words of description rather than of limitation. Many modifications and variations of the present disclosure are possible in light of the above teachings, and the disclosure may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described. 

1. A cleaning apparatus, comprising: a body elongated along an axis between a first end and a second end, the body defining a chamber; and a brush supported by the body and movable from a retracted position within the chamber to an extended position outside of the chamber.
 2. The cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein the body and the brush in the extended position are longer than the body and the brush in the retracted position.
 3. The cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein the brush includes a rod elongated along the axis and bristles extending radially outward from the rod.
 4. The cleaning apparatus of claim 3, wherein the bristles are in the chamber when the brush is in the retracted position and the bristles are outside the chamber when the brush is in the retracted position.
 5. The cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein the body includes an opening at the first end, the brush movable from the retracted position to the extended position along the axis and through the opening.
 6. The cleaning apparatus of claim 5, wherein the brush in the extended position extends from within the chamber to outside the chamber through the opening.
 7. The cleaning apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a light source supported by the body.
 8. The cleaning apparatus of claim 7, wherein the light source is at the second end and pointed toward the first end.
 9. The cleaning apparatus of claim 7, wherein the body includes a light transmissive material and directs light from the light source to the first end.
 10. The cleaning apparatus of claim 7, wherein the light source includes a battery and a light emitting diode.
 11. The cleaning apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a retractor supported by the body, the brush supported by the retractor.
 12. The cleaning apparatus of claim 11, wherein the body includes a first portion and a second portion engaged with the retractor, the first portion is rotatable about the axis relative to the second portion, and rotation of the first portion relative to the second portion moves the brush from the retracted position to the extended position.
 13. The cleaning apparatus of claim 12, wherein the first portion of the body includes an opening at the first end, the brush in the extended position extending from the retractor through the opening and out of the chamber.
 14. The cleaning apparatus of claim 13, further comprising a light source supported by the second portion.
 15. The cleaning apparatus of claim 14, wherein the retractor is between the opening and the light source along the axis.
 16. The cleaning apparatus of claim 15, wherein the first portion includes a light transmissive material and directs light from the light source past the retractor to the opening at the first end. 